20 practical situations, 10 statutes and important exceptions. Check when certification is needed, when an interpreter must attend and when an authority's request determines the requirement.
There is no universal requirement to obtain sworn translations of all foreign documents. A requirement arises from a specific provision, an authority's order or document acceptance rules. The examples below distinguish these situations and identify their legal basis.
Foreign-language documents submitted in civil status matters require an official translation. The Act also permits authorised EU/EEA translators and consuls; applicable exemptions must be taken into account.
Art. 31 · Law on Civil Status RecordsWhere people making declarations cannot communicate with the head of the USC, they arrange for an interpreter to attend. For registering a birth or death, the duty to ensure communication rests with the head of the office. The provision does not reserve every act to a sworn interpreter.
art. 32 · Civil Status Records ActForeign-language evidence in proceedings under the Act is submitted with a Polish translation by a sworn translator. A separate rule under ust. 3 applies before a consul or the Minister of Foreign Affairs; specific exceptions also exist.
art. 8 ust. 2–3 · Foreigners ActRequired foreign-language applications, statements and documents are attached with a translation prepared or certified by a sworn translator or consul. An international agreement may provide otherwise.
Art. 12 · Act on Polish CitizenshipFor a person who does not know Polish, the notary ensures proper understanding of the document under Art. 87. The notary uses a sworn translator or their own language knowledge demonstrated in the statutory manner. Agree the date and documents before signing the deed.
art. 2 § 3; art. 87 § 1 pkt 1 · Notarial LawThe same language rules may apply to a power of attorney, a shareholder's declaration or a deed of incorporation. Foreign nationality alone does not determine the need for an interpreter: language proficiency and the conduct of the particular act are what count.
art. 2 § 3; art. 87 § 1 pkt 1 · Notarial LawThe court may request a sworn translation of a document. This also applies to documents submitted in family, inheritance, employment and commercial matters; the provision does not impose an automatic obligation for every attachment.
art. 256 · Code of Civil ProcedureThe court may appoint an interpreter to question a witness without sufficient command of Polish. Provisions concerning experts apply accordingly to interpreters; attendance is arranged by the court.
art. 265 · Code of Civil ProcedureA person with insufficient command of Polish is entitled to appear before a court in a language they know and to use an interpreter free of charge. The competent court decides on appointment. This is a procedural right, not an obligation to commission a private service.
art. 5 § 2–3 · Law on the Organisation of Common CourtsA person with insufficient command of Polish is entitled to free interpreter assistance. An interpreter is called for acts involving that person. The right extends to a suspect through Art. 71 § 3.
art. 72 § 1–2 · Code of Criminal ProcedureAt the request of the accused or defence counsel, an interpreter is also called for communication relating to an activity in which the accused is entitled to participate. The statutory scope must be distinguished from a privately commissioned consultation.
art. 72 § 2 · Code of Criminal ProcedureThe documents specified in the provision are served with a translation on an entitled accused person. A specific exception allows pronouncement of a translated, non-appealable ruling concluding proceedings with the accused's consent.
Art. 72 § 3 · Code of Criminal ProcedureIf a person being questioned does not speak Polish, an interpreter must be called. The need for interpreting is determined by the ability to communicate, regardless of nationality or procedural role.
art. 204 § 1 pkt 2 · Code of Criminal ProcedureA translator or interpreter is also called to translate a document or acquaint a party with evidence when needed. Art. 204 refers to a translator or interpreter and the corresponding application of provisions on experts, without a general requirement for entry on the sworn translators' list.
Art. 204 § 2–3 · Code of Criminal ProcedureThe Act defines powers to prepare, check and certify translations and copies, and to interpret. It does not itself require clients to obtain certification of every foreign document.
Art. 13 · Act on the Profession of Sworn TranslatorA sworn translator acts with particular care, impartially and confidentially. Refusing an act for an authorised authority in statutory proceedings requires particularly important reasons. This is the translator's obligation, not the client's.
art. 14–15 · Act on the Profession of Sworn TranslatorAt the inspection authority's request, a reliable Polish translation of the specified evidence must be provided. The provision does not require a sworn translation for every invoice or contract.
art. 21 ust. 5 · Accounting ActA statutory auditor may also request a reliable translation of specified accounting evidence. Agree the scope, accounting terminology and how the translation will be linked to the source document.
art. 21 ust. 5 · Accounting ActAt the inspecting official’s request, the person subject to inspection provides and pays for a Polish translation of foreign-language documentation relevant to the inspection. This provision does not independently require a sworn translation.
art. 287 § 1 pkt 2 and § 2 · Tax Ordinance ActWithin the scope of the EU Regulation, translation may be unnecessary, for example where a multilingual standard form is sufficient. These rules do not automatically cover documents issued in Ukraine. Any exemption should be established before ordering.
art. 31; Regulation (EU) 2016/1191, art. 6 · Civil Status Records Act art. 6 · Regulation (EU) 2016/1191Provide the institution's name, type of procedure and wording of the request received. If the authority allows several translation formats or an exemption, clarify this before incurring costs. In proceedings, the competent authority decides whether to call an interpreter.
Information prepared by the practice. Sources verified: 14 October 2026. Links lead to official texts; application of a provision depends on the particular case.
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